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"A family based in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified tutor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.

Yet, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.

Numerous of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the press, with several asking why?

Innovative Idea

The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, said that in spite of first skepticism, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".

When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.

But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".

But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.

The intention: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the development at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.

It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.

The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.

Expense Not a Factor

The family explained to Adam the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.

Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and open doors.

"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.

However, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?

"Certainly", answered Adam. "The family know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.

Impractical

Several in the education sector who have these reservations.

Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."

Peter noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The notion that one individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.

"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically achieve the outcome they want.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the experiences they aspire for their son."

He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."

Purchasing UK Culture

Of course, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and sold.

"In my view the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating